Aircraft float light



W 6, M J. EICHSCHMIDT AIRCRAFT FLOAT LIGHT Filed Ot 19, 1956 (IttotnegS.

Patentecl May 6, 1941 STES 2 Claims.

This invention relates to lighting devices of the signal type, and more particularly to a light which is operated by impact.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved lighting means for use with aircraft which is so constructed that it will readily ignite by falling into water, the device being sufficiently buoyant to prevent the water from putting the light out.

Another object of this invention is to provide an aircraft float light having .a firing pin so mounted that moisture cannot interfere with the operation thereof, so that when the nose carrying the firing pin strikes water the firing pin will perform its necessary operation in setting oif the v light.

A further object of this invention is to provide a float light of this character which is so constructed that the same degree or period of light can be obtained from a device which is appreciably smaller in size and weight, so that a considthe device is thereby rendered safe for use by 5 airplanes in that no signal light will be operated if the flare is dropped and strikes buildings, land, or any hard object or surface other than water or mud.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawing, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section taken through substantially the center of a device constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary detail side elevation partly broken away and in section.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the upper end of the device.

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the lower end of the device.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. l.

Referring to the drawing, the'numeral I designates generally a tubular member comprising the outer shell of a lighting device constructed according to an embodiment of this invention. Preferably this shell I0 is constructed of relatively light weight material, such as paper or like fibrous material, which will not readily burst under the initial expansion of gases therein.

The front or lower end of the shell ll] engages the reduced inner end portion ll of a head [2, and preferably the reduced portion H of the head I2 is provided with annular ribs l3. A compression or clamping ring l engages about the forward end of the shell Ill and holds this shell l0 tightly on the ribs I3 and against the shoulder l4 formed by reducing the upper end of the head [2.

A pyrotechnic casing I6 is disposed Within the shell adjacent the lower end thereof, and is constructed in the form of a metal cylinder H having a pellet i8 on the inside thereof through which a fuse I9 extends. The upper or inner end of the cylinder i! is constructed in the form of a cone, as at 20, and preferably this cone is frangible and contains a pellet igniting charge 2|.

The inner end of the pyrotechnic casing I6 is seated in a recess 22 provided in a plug 23. The plug 23 has a bore 24 relatively smaller in diameter than the diameter of the pyrotechnic casing l6, and this plug 23 is secured to the shell 13 by means of nails 25 or other suitable fastening devices. A cylindrical member 25 is disposed within the shell upwardly of the plug 23, the cylindrical member 26 being constructed of substantially the same material as the shell ID. This member 26 is firmly held against the upper end of the plug 23 by means of nails 27 or the like.

The casing IT is held concentrically Within the shell [0 by means of a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart longitudinally extending sticks or bars 23 which are held in proper position by means of a wire 29 extending through suitable holes 30 provided in the bars 23. These bars or sticks 28 not only serve the purpose of holding the casing ll concentrically within the shell in, but also operate to reinforce the casing 11.

A priming cap holder and casing closure 36 is held in the lower end of the metal cylinder H by crimping, and a reduced axial portion 31 thereof is threaded into the head l2. This reduced portion 3] is provided with an axial bore -3| in which the forward end of the fuse is encylindrical exte sion 38 of the holder 36 extends vided in the head 12, and this extension 38 is provided with a relatively small bore 40 intersecting near its inner end with a transversely extending passage 5! which is disposed near the lower or outer end of the bore 31. A priming cap 62 is held by crimping as at 43 onto the outer or lower end of the extension 38 and closes the outer end of the opening 4! The closed inner end of the casing I! has a container or cup 32 mounted therein provided with a cylindrical flange 33, and a combustible disk is interposed between the flange 33 and the inner end of the pellet l8.

ing mixture 2! and a quick starting igniter 35'is disposed within the container 32 in a. position.

for ignition by the fuse IS.

The head 52 is provided at its outer or lower end with a truncated or flaring recess 44; anda. relatively flexible disk or diaphragm 45 extends across this recess 44. A nose 46 engages against the outer side of the diaphragm 45, bein'g'held thereagainst by crimping the outer or lower end of the body l2, as at 4'1. The nose 46 is'preferably constructed of metal so as to provide a sufficient weight at the lower end of the shell I0 to cause this end thereof to assume the lead when the device is falling. The nose 4% has an axial passage 38 therethrough, which at its outer or lower end is flared as at 4%, this passage 48 comprising a compression chamber by means ofiwhi'ch the diaphragm 45 is flexed inwardly.

The diaphragm 45 is provided with a firing pin which confronts the primer 42, this firing pin 58 being relatively short so that the flexing of the diaphragm 55 inwardly will effect contact of the firing pin 50 with the primer 42, as shown in Fig. 2. V

The upper or rear end of the shell H1 is provided with direction fins 5| which are constructed from. a sheet of material which is bent upon itself to provide the desired number of radial fins 5i and then bent in cylindrical form to. closely engage about the periphery of the shell [0. A piug is disposed vxrlthin the upper or rear end of the shell to, being provided with a bore 53 which is closed by means of a dished plate or closure 5 5 which engages in an enlarged recess 55 at the upper end of the plug 52. The plate 54 is provided with a plurality of vent openings 56 by means of which the gases in the combustion cl'iarnber 5'3 may be initially released. The plug 52 is preferably flanged at its outer end as at 58, this annular flange 58 engaging against the upper end of the shell as. The plug 52 and the fins or blades 5! are securely held in position by means of nails 58 or like fastening devices which pass through the cylindrical body portion 60, through thes hell ii) and into the plug 52, the plug 52 being preferably constructed of wood or fibrous material.

In the use of this aircraft float light, the device may be dropped from an airplane from a suitable height, and the weight of the lower end thereof will cause the nose 46 to take the lead, with the fins 5! holding the shell Iii in a relatively straight lineto prevent tumbling thereof. Assuming that this light is dropped into water from a suitable height, when the nose 46" strikes the water, a jet of water will enter the chamber Q3 and will flex the diaphragm 45 inwardly and cause the firing pin 50. to contact with the priming cap 2. The charge of the priming cap 42 will pass inwardly through the passage 40 and The fuse l9 ex tends into the container 32 which holds the startthe bore 3|, thereby igniting the delay or starting fuse l9.

It will, of course, be understood that when the device is dropped into the water it will be submerged for a period of time until the buoyancy thereof will bring the device to the surface of the water. During the time that the device is submerged, the fuse i9 is slowly burning, the 7 time of burning of this fuse l9 bein about ten seconds; although of course: the time oflburning of the fused 9 may be varied by different combinations of fuse material.

.When the fire from the fuse l9 reaches the starter. mixture container 32, the igniter 35 will "be ignited'and this will in turn ignite the starter mixture 2 I: which will then burn the combustible disk-or wall.34. At. the same time that the upper 'end'"of"'tlie' pellet lBis ignited through the burning: of the combustible disk or wall 34, the cap .20 will be fractured. The expansion of gases causedbyignition" ofthe powder 21- in the contamer" 32 will" blow-outthe plate or closure 54, so that by the time that the pellet l8- is ignited-the flam'e therefromca-n rea'dily project through the bore of the plug;

Thediaphragm fi" is preferablyconstructed of metal so that moisturewill not affect the-condition thereof, and'so thairthe force-of the device striking the Water will not fracture thediaphragm andpermit wat'ento enter the lower end of the head: I rand thus" preventproperlightingof the lighting charge I81, V V

light by-re'a'son of-its compactness can be made considerably-smaller than lights --which' do not embodyan' impact lighting means of this character, and in addition the construction cost oftl'ie lightlis thereby reduced to an appreciable extent; 7 a

It isobvi'ous that various changes andmodifications" maybe' madev in the details of construction anddesi'gn' of'the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit; thereof; such changesandv modifications. being restricted only by-;the scope of the. following claims.

What', is claimed is? c 1.. A. device as. described comprising a head having a, through opening in a central portion and a. substantially frusto conical recess in its lower end portion with the' wider end of the recess presenteddownwardly and reaching out to a diameter just, short of the external diameter of the head, a resilient diaphragm of a' diameter approaching.- that, of the head seated at its marginal edge upon the-.enlargedbase portion of the frusto-conicalrecess, a perforated nose fitted below and in contact with the normal sprung condition of. the. resilient diaphragm and having a marginal-flange, a, downwardly projecting rim on said head extending in common about the marginsof saiddiaphragm and nose flange and being..c1:impedlinwardly upon the nose to form a tight fastening for the. marginal edge portion only. of? the diaphragm, firing means carried by an intermediate portion of the diaphragm, a pyrotechnic unit having; its forward, end supported'by said head having a forwardiprojection extending through the opening in said head, a primer carried by said projection in the upper narrower part of said recess opposite said firing means, a shell having its forward end afilxed to said head. and surrounding said pyrotechnic unit, and means lnsai'd" shell for'supporting the rear portion of said pyrotechnic unit.

2. A device as described comprisinga head having a through opening in a central portion and a substantially frusto conical recess in its lower end portion with the wider end of the recess presented downwardly and reaching out to a diameter just short of the external diameter of the head, a resilient diaphragm of a diameter approaching that of the head seated at its marginal edge upon the enlarged base portion of the frusto conical recess, a perforated nose fitted below and in contact with the normal sprung condition of the resilient diaphragm and having a marginal flange, a downwardly projecting rim on said head extending in common about the margins of said diaphragm and nose flange and being crimped inwardly upon the nose to form a tight fastening for the marginal edge portion only of the diaphragm, firing means carried by an intermediate portion of the diaphragm, a pyrotechnic unit having its forward end supported by said head having a forward projection extending through the opening in said head, a primer carried by said projection in the upper narrower part of said recess opposite said firing means, a paper shell having its lower end overlapping with a part of said head, means for binding the overlapped part of said paper shell upon said head, a perforated ring fixed in an intermeiate portion of said paper shell having means to receive and support the upper end of the pyrotechnic unit.

MAX J. EICHSCHMIDT. 

